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SACRAMENTO (PRNewswire-USNewswire) -- United Animal Nations (UAN), a national nonprofit animal protection organization, is imploring pet owners to avoid leaving their dogs in hot cars this summer -- a practice that can lead to serious illness and even death.

"Often people leave their dogs in the car while they shop or run errands, but doing so when the weather is warm can literally be a death sentence for your pet," said UAN President and CEO Nicole Forsyth.

Forsyth offered five reasons why leaving a dog in a hot car can be deadly:

1. Dogs are especially vulnerable to heat-related illness because they can only cool off by panting and through the pads in their feet.

2. Even on seemingly mild days, an enclosed car can be deadly.

In a Stanford University study, when it was 72 degrees outside, a car's internal temperature climbed to 116 degrees within one hour.

3. Enclosed cars heat up quickly.

In a study by San Francisco State University, when it was 80 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car rose to 99 degrees in 10 minutes and 109 degrees in 20 minutes.

4. A dog's normal body temperature is between 101 to 102.5 degrees; a dog can only withstand a high body temperature for a short time before suffering nerve damage, heart problems, liver damage, brain damage oreven death.

5. Studies show that cracking the windows has little effect on a vehicle's internal temperature.

Already this year, UAN has received reports of dogs like Snuggle, a Maltese Lhasa Apso who was locked in a car while her owner visited a Tampa, Florida amusement park.

When Snuggle was rescued, the temperature inside the car was more than 90 degrees and her core temperature was nearly 106 degrees.

To learn more about the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars, visit MyDogIsCool.com.

United Animal Nations (UAN) focuses on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the bond between people and animals through a variety of programs, including emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and education.